Vanderbilt is off to the best start in school history and is one of only 10 remaining undefeated teams in the country.
The 20th-ranked Commodores (12-0, 1-0), however, will receive their first real challenge of the season when they visit No. 7 Kentucky (9-1, 0-0) for the Wildcats' Southeastern Conference opener.
Vanderbilt's perfect season continued with a 59-53 win over Auburn on Wednesday night in its SEC opener. Russell Lakey hit Vanderbilt's first 3-pointer in 14 attempts with 1:10 left to give the Commodores their 12th straight win to open the season, setting a school record while surpassing last year's win total (11-18).
"I knew we were oh-for-something because we couldn't throw anything in the ocean," Lakey said. "It just showed our team grit."
Three of Vandy's 18 losses last season were to the Wildcats, including an embarrassing 106-44 drubbing in Lexington and an 81-63 setback in the SEC tournament quarterfinals.
"Do they want revenge? Yes, but I would want some payback too," Kentucky guard Gerald Fitch said. "They are playing good and we know they will be ready and hyped up for this game."
Kentucky had 16-0 conference record en route to the SEC title last season. The Wildcats, who have won 21 straight league games overall, became just the second SEC team in 47 years to post a perfect conference mark.
While the Commodores' start has been impressive, they will be facing their first ranked opponent in Kentucky.
"(Coach) Kevin Stallings has done a great job of getting his team ready to play," Wildcats coach Tubby Smith said. "When you're 12-0, you're playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of belief in one another."
Matt Freije, the SEC preseason player of the year, is averaging a team-leading 18.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-9 senior forward scored 15 points in Wednesday's win.
"He will definitely bring it," Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes said. "He can do it all shoot, take it off the dribble, post up he has an overall game."
Kentucky will face a ranked opponent for the third time in four games.
The Wild Cats are coming off a 61-56 victory over No. 9 North Carolina on Saturday. Fitch scored 21 points, including a game-clinching 3-pointer with 23 seconds left. Erik Daniels added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, who shot 55 percent in the second half after shooting 26 percent in the first 20 minutes.
Kentucky leads the all-time series 125-35.
